Suspension of judgment about gods

What it is: A classical formulation of agnosticism holds that one should not affirm or deny definitively the existence of God or gods without sufficient evidence.

How the position understands it: The suspension of judgment is seen as intellectual prudence, especially when available arguments are considered inconclusive or disputed.

Basis and context: The idea dialogues with philosophical skepticism, modern epistemology, and contemporary debates about the burden of proof.

Debates and variations: Some agnostics maintain this suspension only on the theoretical plane; others combine it with practical disbelief or with non-dogmatic religiosity.

Supportive

Bertrand Russell, Am I An Atheist or an Agnostic?

agnosticism,russell,atheism,conceptual-distinction

A famous text on the distinction between atheism and agnosticism.

Reference: Bertrand Russell, Am I An Atheist or an Agnostic?.
Content: Russell distinguishes levels of conviction and shows how practical disbelief and epistemic caution can coexist.
Use in debate: It is one of the most cited references for separating belief, disbelief, and knowledge.

Protagoras, fragment on the gods

agnosticism,protagoras,antiquity,skepticism

An ancient formulation of caution about knowledge of the gods.

Reference: Fragment attributed to Protagoras.
Content: The author says he cannot know whether the gods exist or not, mentioning the obscurity of the matter and the brevity of human life.
Use in debate: It is one of the most cited classical antecedents for the agnostic attitude.

T. H. Huxley, Agnosticism

agnosticism,huxley,definition,epistemology

The classic text that popularized the modern term.

Reference: T. H. Huxley, essays on agnosticism.
Content: Huxley describes agnosticism as a method of not affirming as certain what cannot be adequately demonstrated.
Use in debate: It is the most important modern reference for the historical definition of the term.

Contrary

Romans 1:19-20

bible,new-testament,theism,against

A Christian text used to defend the knowability of God through creation.

Reference: Romans 1:19-20.
Content: The text states that God becomes perceptible through the created world.
Use in debate: It is one of the passages most often used by theists against the idea of God's inevitable unknowability.